250 THE AMERICAN FARMER. 



very injurious to them at that season. Sheep are less injurious in grazing mowing lands than 

 cattle, but we believe the farmers generally would find it more profitable, in the end, to keep 

 such lands entirely free from all grazing stock. The grass crop is one of great importance, 

 since it lies at the very foundation of all prosperity and success in agriculture. 



Grass is said to be &quot; king among the crops of the earth,&quot; and more land devoted to its 

 cultivation and more money value realized from it than any other product, not excepting even 

 cotton, which has been called, at the South, king. The human race existed for ages without 

 cotton, but never without grass. The statistics of nations prove that grass is the most essen 

 tial and remunerative of all crops. In view of its great importance, anything that will improve 

 this crop and prevent its deterioration ought to receive the thoughtful attention and consider 

 ation of all farmers. 



Rolling Mowing Lands and Pastures. It is a very good practice to go over the 

 mowing lands with a roller in the spring after the frost has left the ground, as by this means 

 the roots that have been thrown out of the soil, by the action of the frost, are pressed into 

 the soil again, where they will soon become firmly settled, and thus their drying up is 

 prevented, as they otherwise would be liable to do. Experienced farmers have found this 

 practice extremely valuable to their grass crop, and to amply repay for the labor attending 

 it; some even value the result so highly, that they treat their pastures in the same way, 

 whenever the surface is sufficiently even, and unobstructed by stones to admit of the use of 

 the roller. 



MANURING MOWING LANDS. 



IT is said that New England farmers are in the habit of robbing their grass lands to feed 

 their hoed crops and arable lands; which has been in a great measure, we think, true 

 until a few years past, since which time more attention has been given to fertilizing, 

 in various ways, lands designed for mowing. The improvement in this respect is however 

 gradual, and even now there are many farmers who adhere to the old-time system of farm 

 ing, and consider the grass crop of secondary importance, letting it take care of itself, year 

 after year, with little or nothing given the land to meet the constant drain made upon it in 

 producing its annual crop, while the manure made from it all goes toward the improvement 

 of the other crops. Grass depends much upon the air in its material for growth, but also 

 much upon the soil, and the elements it extracts from the soil in its growth should be re 

 turned to it, or exhaustion of soil will follow, and a consequent loss to the grass crop. No 

 good farmer would think for a moment of cultivating his corn, or other hoed crops, without 

 a liberal supply of manure, yet grass crops require the use of fertilizers just as much as any 

 other, both for mowing lands and pasture, and unless such fertilizers are given the soil pro 

 ducing them as will restore the elements taken, there is no reason for expecting anything but 

 a failure in grass crops, the same as that of corn or any other cultivated crop, treated in the 

 same manner. The analysis of hay shows over five per cent, of earthy matter, while dried 

 clover yields from seven to nine per cent., yet we will readily see that where land produces at 

 the rate of three tons per acre, this element is taken off to the amount of 300 pounds per acre 

 per annum; what soil could long endure such a drainage without injury? The potash, soda 

 and other salts requisite to the growth of the grass are thus taken from the soil. Grass land 

 must be renewed with suitable fertilizers, or exhaustion must of necessity follow; there can be no 

 other result, in the natural course of things. Commercial manures, such as ashes, lime, 

 crushed bones, gypsum, and guano, are all good for the grass crop, gypsum being especially 



